>>  We've seen some reaction to the skinny models outcry, but the attention allotted to the lack of model diversity has been slim . . . until now.  Instead of going the legislation route, rumors are swirling that a number of editorials highlighting black models, past and present, are being cultivated. 

It's even being suggested that Steven Meisel has shot an entire issue of Vogue Italia, using only black models.  If anyone was to pull such a stunt, it would be Vogue Italia.  I'm already envisioning Chanel Iman, Alek Wek, Jourdan Dunn, Liya Kebede, Naomi Campbell . . .

Speaking of Naomi, she joins Nina Garcia as the latest fashion insider slated to appear on Ugly Betty.  Naomi has been announced as a guest star on the show before, but this time it's finally happening.  She'll in the season finale of Ugly Betty . . . as herself.

(I couldn't resist posting this picture of Baby Naomi, courtesy of TI).

>> Since we found out today that Linda is the new Prada girl, I wanted to take a look back at the end of an era. 

Sasha Pivovarova has been the center of all Prada campaigns since she first burst on the scene, walking exclusively for Miu Miu and Prada in February 2005.  It was announced in July 2005 that she would be the only girl in the Fall 2005 Prada campaign.  In a world where a model is lucky to be buzzed about for more than one season, 9+ big campaigns for a house like Prada is kind of a big deal. 

Sasha for Prada . . . a retrospective. 

*source: jozworld, tfs, tfs, tfs, prada

>>  Fall 2008 is the season for change at Prada . . . first, Jourdan Dunn appeared as the first black model to walk Prada in over ten years, and  now, Linda Evangelista has toppled Sasha Pivovarova as the go-to Prada campaign girl. 

This is especially surprising (but exciting!), considering that Prada prides itself on breaking fresh faces, both on the runway and in ads.  Linda is set to shoot with Steven Meisel this week at Chelsea Piers in New York.

*image: wireimage

>> Who in the fashion world doesn't want a piece of Sex and the City: The Movie?  The show made household names of Manolo Blahnik and Jimmy Choo, after all.  Even Vogue is in on the goods — they've got an upcoming Annie Leibovitz editorial with Chris Noth and Sarah Jessica Parker (below), and perhaps even a June cover out of the deal. 

They also allowed the film to shoot in the hallowed 4 Times Square halls — the first instance ever, because — hold your breath, girls — "The movie got (editor) Anna Wintour's blessing," as Andre Leon Talley explains. But most importantly, ALT himself makes a cameo appearance, styling Carrie as she's photographed in wedding dresses for Vogue: "It's a fabulous scene -- all about what a chic New York woman should wear for her wedding.  It's all very Vogue and of course, Carrie Bradshaw is the ideal Vogue woman." 

Meanwhile, another Vogue man makes a more subtle appearance in a different scene, same movie: Vogue Paris cover star Andre J, sitting right behind Cynthia Nixon.

*images: wireimage, satc

Do you fake it until you make it? Learn how to make it your own in today's Must Reads from:

Kiss Me Stace wonders if fake is better.

ShoeBlog goes shoe-sighting in Japan.

StyleBytes manages to make patchwork chic.

Male Style Review recommends sandals for your man.

Raging Rouge reviews Urban Decay's Lip Envy.

Straight from Mexico City, Coutorture correspondent Max Gustashaw revisits Mexico Fashion Week. For today's entry he writes on the Marvin y Quetzal Fashion Show. Be sure to check out yesterday's report on the Te Amo fashion show. Without further ado...


Mexico City, Marvin y Quetzal Fashion Show


Well-behaved and with a vicious bit of candy-cane charm, Marvin y Quetzal's Fall 08 collection reflects a basic philosophy that Quetzal sums up as, "Simplicity and extravaganza... We take a heritage of French couture, [for example] and mix it up with an indigenous influence that we have [as] Mexicans or [in Marvin's case] Venezuelans," and you can see by the velvet and the knit and the high necks, and by the bright colors, the peruvian-inspired pom shawls and pullovers, the shiny patent boots with art deco heels and the 'squito-net eyeguards descending from mandarin hats of satin, why Marvin y Quetzal is the spice mill whafting the distinct and eclectic bouquet of moda mexicana to the first-world's hungry. And while London, Australia, Los Angeles, and, indeed, American Apparel have taken note, the two keep close to home in hopes that Mexico's young designers can with workable industry revive the country's history of high fashion manufacturing and bolster the aerie in which they perch.

Every trend forecasting seminar, every manufacturer, every trade show rep is talking about coated denim. Basically, it's denim treated such that it looks like, well, trousers. There are different types of coating (like Polyurethane or more eco-friendly versions with wax) and those techniques are being explored and evolved by different designers and likewise tested on the market. Coated denim, as our Network Partner Denim News points out, used to feel and look quite thick, however, new methods have made it such that there's a thinner sheen, and more wearable weight to these treated trousers. Expect to see these jeans cum, er, pants more and more. The look might not be apt for hot weather but by fall consumers will be looking for something more substantial and special after wearing their torn Levi's all summer. Or so the theory goes. Check out our Garmento expedition to a denim manufacturer's studio, and, the trend alert from Denim News.

Urban effing Outfitters is jumping on the getitwhileitlasts train with their very own capsule collections. Those smart cookies have arranged for (are you ready for this?) Charlotte Ronson, Geren Ford, Corpus, Steven Alan, and Paul & Joe Sister for prefab mini-collections at Urban price points. First up is label Geren Ford's 'Hawks' collection, priced between $48 and $128. We're wondering, though, whether all of these accessibly priced duds will just get mixed up in garment the free-for-all that is Urban Outfitters (what a MESS!). If the press didn't cover it, we could easily see ourselves walking in and seeing a Corpus jumper and just, like, trying it on. Not, you know, screaming and waiting in line and whatnot. We live in a funny fashion world, don't we? See you in the Hawks line this May, or the Rogan line, or the Wang line, or the Lim line, or...


Click for more Collab Mad
(image part of the Hawk collection for Urban Outfitters courtesy of MissCrew)